Operating apparatus, game machine, and control method

ABSTRACT

An operating apparatus operating apparatus includes a touch panel, a first projection portion, a fluid holder, and a second projection portion. The first projection portion is arranged below the touch panel. The fluid holder is arranged below the first projection portion. The fluid holder holds a transparent fluid. The second projection portion is arranged below the fluid holder.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No.2016-181022, filed Sep. 15, 2016, the entire contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The disclosure relates to an operating apparatus, a game machine, and acontrol method.

BACKGROUND

Various types of game machines operated at gaming facilities such ascasinos have been known for some time. A game machine includes anoperating apparatus used when a player plays a game. The player can usethe operating apparatus to make various operations pertaining to thegame. Such operations include an operation for setting a betting rate,an operation for selecting various types of information such as validsymbols, an operation for settling the game, an operation for calling astaff member, and so on.

JP 2008-054696A discloses an operational liquid-crystal button for avideo slot machine as an example of a past operating apparatus providedin a game machine. This operational liquid-crystal button includes aliquid-crystal display device that can display text or symbols necessaryfor required game operations.

JP 2008-054696A, published Mar. 13, 2008, is an example of backgroundart.

The operational liquid-crystal button disclosed in JP 2008-054696A ismerely capable of displaying text or symbols. There is thus a problem inthat the game has little appeal for players. Thus what is needed in suchpast game machines is a dramatic effect capable of capturing a player'sattention.

An embodiment of the present invention has been conceived to solve theabove-described problems. Accordingly, one or more embodiments of thepresent invention provide an operating apparatus, a game machine, and agame machine control method capable of strongly capturing a player'sattention.

SUMMARY

To solve the above-described problems, an operating apparatus accordingto an aspect of the present invention is an operating apparatus includedin a game machine, the apparatus including: a touch panel; a firstdisplay unit arranged below the touch panel; a fluid holder arrangedbelow the first display unit, the fluid holder holding a transparentfluid; and a second display unit arranged below the fluid holder.

According to this aspect, the operating apparatus can present to aplayer a combination of an image displayed in the first display unit orthe second display unit and a flow effect in the fluid held in the fluidholder. The operating apparatus can therefore more strongly capture theplayer's attention.

In an operating apparatus according to another aspect of the presentinvention, it may be preferable that the first display unit beconfigured to switch between a transparent state and a projecting state,the projecting state being a state where an image can be projected ontothe first display unit; and that the second display unit be configuredto switch between a transparent state and a projecting state, theprojecting state being a state where an image can be projected onto thesecond display unit.

According to this aspect, an image display in the first display unit andan image display in the second display unit can be switched betweenusing a simple configuration.

In an operating apparatus according to another aspect of the presentinvention, it may be preferable that the operating apparatus furtherinclude a light-emitting element board arranged between the fluid holderand the second display unit, a plurality of light-emitting elementsbeing mounted on the light-emitting element board.

According to this aspect, more diverse effects can be presented to theplayer.

In an operating apparatus according to another aspect of the presentinvention, it may be preferable that the fluid be a liquid.

According to this aspect, a flow produced in the fluid can be presentedto the player more clearly.

To solve the above-described problems, a game machine according to anaspect of the present invention includes: any one of the above-describedoperating apparatuses; a display controller configured to cause an imageto be displayed in one of the first display unit and the second displayunit; and a flow controller configured to control a flow of the fluidwhile an image is being displayed in one of the first display unit andthe second display unit.

According to this aspect, the image displayed in the first display unitor the second display unit and the flow effect in the fluid held in thefluid holder can be presented to the player simultaneously. The player'sattention can therefore be caught more strongly.

In a game machine according to another aspect of the present invention,it may be preferable that the flow controller cause bubbles or ripplesto arise in the fluid.

According to this aspect, the player's attention can be caught moreeffectively.

In a game machine according to another aspect of the present invention,it may be preferable that the first display unit be configured to switchbetween a transparent state and a projecting state, the projecting statebeing a state where an image can be projected onto the first displayunit; and that the second display unit be configured to switch between atransparent state and a projecting state, the projecting state being astate where an image can be projected onto the second display unit. Itmay be furthermore preferable that the game machine further include astate controller configured to control the state of the first displayunit and the second display unit, and a projector configured to projectan image onto the first display unit or the second display unit frombelow the second display unit. Furthermore, it may be preferable thatthe display controller be configured to cause the projector to projectthe image onto the first display unit when the first display unit isbeing controlled to the projecting state and the second display unit isbeing controlled to the transparent state; and that the displaycontroller be configured to cause the projector to project the imageonto the second display unit when the first display unit is beingcontrolled to the transparent state and the second display unit is beingcontrolled to the projecting state.

According to this aspect, an image display in the first display unit andan image display in the second display unit can be switched betweenusing a simple configuration.

In a game machine according to another aspect of the present invention,it may be preferable that the operating apparatus further include alight-emitting element board arranged between the fluid holder and thesecond display unit, a plurality of light-emitting elements beingmounted on the light-emitting element board. It may be furthermorepreferable that the game machine further include an input detectorconfigured to detect a pressing operation made by a player on the touchpanel and a light emission controller configured to control emission oflight from the plurality of light-emitting elements. Furthermore, it maybe preferable that the display controller be configured to cause animage including a plurality of display items to be displayed in thefirst display unit or the second display unit; that the input detectorbe configured to detect the pressing operation at an input position ofthe touch panel corresponding to one of the plurality of display items;and that the light emission controller be configured to cause alight-emitting element, of the plurality of light-emitting elements,corresponding to the one of the display items to emit light.

According to this aspect, the game machine can more strongly catch theplayer's attention by illuminating the periphery of a display itemcorresponding to a pressing operation made by the player on the touchpanel, on the basis of that pressing operation.

To solve the above-described problems, a control method according to anaspect of the present invention is a method of controlling a gamemachine including any one of the above-described operating apparatuses,the method including: causing an image to be displayed in one of thefirst display unit and the second display unit; and controlling a flowof the fluid while an image is being displayed in one of the firstdisplay unit and the second display unit.

According to this aspect, the player's attention can be caught morestrongly.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a player's attentioncan be caught more strongly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the external appearance of a gamemachine according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 2A to 2C are diagrams illustrating an operating apparatus indetail;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the gamemachine;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating control of a plurality of LEDs in theoperating apparatus;

FIGS. 5A to 5D are diagrams illustrating an operating apparatusaccording to a second embodiment of the present invention in detail;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a gamemachine;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a ripple effect produced in theoperating apparatus;

FIGS. 8A to 8C are diagrams illustrating an operating apparatusaccording to a third embodiment of the present invention in detail;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are diagrams illustrating part of the internal structureof a game machine;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the functional configuration of a gamemachine according to the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating examples of an image displayin the operating apparatus; and

FIGS. 12A and 12B are diagrams illustrating examples of fluid floweffects in the operating apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION First Embodiment

A first embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

Configuration of Game Machine 1

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the external appearance of a gamemachine 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Asillustrated in FIG. 1, the game machine 1 includes a housing 2 and anoperating apparatus 4. Various components for running the game machine 1are installed within the housing 2. The housing 2 may be formed from atransparent material. The operating apparatus 4 is an apparatus usedwhen a player plays a game.

The game machine 1 is a slot machine, for example. The player can usethe operating apparatus 4 to make various operations pertaining to slotgames that can be played in the game machine 1. Such operations includean operation for setting a betting rate, an operation for selectingvarious types of information such as valid symbols, an operation forsettling the game, an operation for calling a staff member, and so on.

The operating apparatus 4 is attached to a position of the housing 2where it is easy for the player to operate the operating apparatus 4. Inthe example of FIG. 1, the operating apparatus 4 is attached to asubstantially central position on a front surface of the housing 2. Amechanism for slot games (not illustrated) is provided in a position ofthe housing 2 above where the operating apparatus 4 is attached.

The operating apparatus 4 has an overall substantially plate shape. Theoperating apparatus 4 is attached to the game machine 1 such that theoperating apparatus 4 is substantially parallel to the ground or istilted at a slight angle relative to the ground.

The operating apparatus 4 includes an operating surface for acceptingoperations from the player, presenting information to the player, and soon. The operating apparatus 4 is attached to the game machine 1 suchthat the operating surface faces the player.

Details of Operating Apparatus 4

FIGS. 2A to 2C are diagrams illustrating the operating apparatus 4 indetail. FIG. 2A illustrates the operating apparatus 4 from an angle.FIG. 2B illustrates the operating apparatus 4 from above. FIG. 2Cillustrates the operating apparatus 4 from an A-A cross-sectionindicated in FIG. 2B.

As illustrated in FIG. 2C, the operating apparatus 4 includes a touchpanel 11, an LED board 12 (a light-emitting element board), and adisplay panel 13 (a display unit). The touch panel 11, the LED board 12,and the display panel 13 are arranged in a stacked manner. The LED board12 is disposed below the touch panel 11, and the display panel 13 isdisposed below the LED board 12.

The touch panel 11 is a panel that accepts operation inputs from theplayer. The touch panel 11 as a whole is transparent. A surface of thetouch panel 11 corresponds to the operating surface of the operatingapparatus 4.

The LED board 12 is an overall transparent board. A plurality of LEDs 21(light-emitting elements) are mounted on a surface of the LED board 12.The plurality of LEDs 21 are a plurality of light-emitting diodesarranged on the touch panel 11 in a predetermined pattern. The LED board12 includes the plurality of LEDs 21, and thus the amount of energyconsumed by the operating apparatus 4 can be reduced. The plurality ofLEDs 21 are thin and small. As such, the plurality of LEDs 21 are notnoticeable to the player when the player views the operating surface ofthe operating apparatus 4.

The display panel 13 is a panel capable of displaying an image. Thedisplay panel 13 can change the image displayed therein. In other words,the display panel 13 can switch among different images to be displayedas appropriate. This makes it possible to vary effects presented to theplayer using displayed images. The display panel 13 is a liquid-crystaldisplay panel, for example. The display panel 13 can be transparent as awhole when not displaying an image. In this case, the display panel 13includes a transparent backlight, for example. When a transparent formis used for the display panel 13, the player can see his/her own feetthrough the operating surface of the operating apparatus.

Because the touch panel 11 is transparent, the player can clearly seethe light emitted from the LEDs 21. Meanwhile, because the touch panel11 and the LED board 12 are transparent, the player can clearly see theimage displayed in the display panel 13.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the gamemachine 1. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the operating apparatus 4 includesan input detector 31, a light emission controller 32, and a displaycontroller 33. The input detector 31 detects a pressing operation madeby the player on the touch panel 11. The light emission controller 32controls the emission of light by the plurality of LEDs 21 on the basisof a result of the input detector 31 detecting the pressing operation.The display controller 33 causes an image to be displayed in the displaypanel 13. The display controller 33 is a liquid-crystal driver, forexample.

Control of LEDs 21

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating control of the plurality of LEDs 21 inthe operating apparatus 4. In the example illustrated in FIG. 4, thedisplay controller 33 causes an image including a plurality of buttons41 to 44 (display items) to be displayed in the display panel 13. Eightof the LEDs 21 are mounted in each of positions, in the LED board 12,corresponding to the periphery of a corresponding one of the buttons 41to 44.

The player makes a pressing operation on an input position of the touchpanel 11 corresponding to the display position of the button 41. Theinput detector 31 detects this touch operation. The light emissioncontroller 32 identifies the eight LEDs 21, out of all of the LEDs 21mounted on LED board 12, that correspond to the button 41. The lightemission controller 32 then controls the eight identified LEDs 21.Specifically, the light emission controller 32 causes all of the eightLEDs 21 arranged in the periphery of the button 41 to emit light.Meanwhile, the light emission controller 32 controls all of the eightLEDs 21 arranged in the periphery of each of the buttons 42 to 44 to notemit light.

When the player makes the pressing operation for pressing the button 41on the touch panel 11, the eight LEDs 21 arranged in the periphery ofthe button 41 emit light. The player can clearly understand that s/hehas pressed the button 41 out of the plurality of buttons 41 to 44 onthe basis of the light emitted in the periphery of the button 41.

As described thus far, the game machine 1 can more strongly catch theplayer's attention by illuminating the periphery of the button 41corresponding to a pressing operation made by the player on the touchpanel 11, on the basis of that pressing operation.

Second Embodiment

A second embodiment of the present invention will be described next withreference to FIGS. 5 to 7. Elements that are the same as in the firstembodiment will be given the same reference numerals, and detaileddescriptions thereof will be omitted.

Like the game machine 1 according to the first embodiment, the gamemachine 1 according to the second embodiment includes the housing 2 andthe operating apparatus 4. The external appearance of the game machine 1is the same as that illustrated in FIG. 1, and thus detaileddescriptions thereof will be omitted as well.

Details of Operating Apparatus 4 FIGS. 5A to 5D are diagramsillustrating the operating apparatus 4 according to the secondembodiment of the present invention in detail. FIG. 5A illustrates theoperating apparatus 4 from an angle. FIG. 5B illustrates the operatingapparatus 4 from above. FIG. 5C illustrates part of the operatingapparatus 4 from an A-A cross-section indicated in FIG. 5B. FIG. 5Dillustrates all of the operating apparatus 4 from the A-A cross-sectionindicated in FIG. 5B.

As illustrated in FIG. 5A, the operating apparatus 4 includes anentry/exit port 51, a cover 52, and a fan 53 (a ripple generator). Theentry/exit port 51 is a mechanism for introducing a fluid into theoperating apparatus 4, extracting the fluid from the operating apparatus4, and so on. The fluid will be described in detail later. The fan 53 isa blower that blows air against the fluid held within the operatingapparatus 4.

As illustrated in FIG. 5C, the operating apparatus 4 includes a touchpanel 61, a glass plate 62, a fluid holder 63, a display panel 64 (adisplay unit), and an acrylic plate 65. The touch panel 61, the glassplate 62, the fluid holder 63, the display panel 64, and the acrylicplate 65 are stacked in that order from the top. The glass plate 62 isarranged below the touch panel 61, the fluid holder 63 is arranged belowthe glass plate 62, the display panel 64 is arranged below the fluidholder 63, and the acrylic plate 65 is arranged below the display panel64.

The touch panel 61 is the same as the touch panel 11 according to thefirst embodiment, and thus detailed descriptions thereof will beomitted.

The glass plate 62 is a transparent reinforcing plate made of glass. Byinterposing the glass plate 62 between the touch panel 61 and the fluidholder 63, the operating apparatus 4 can be made durable with respect toimpacts from the exterior.

The fluid holder 63 is a plate-shaped member inside of which atransparent fluid is held. The fluid holder 63 is constituted of a firsttransparent plate 71 and a second transparent plate 72 arranged opposingeach other. The first transparent plate 71 and the second transparentplate 72 are transparent plates made of glass, for example. The firsttransparent plate 71 and the second transparent plate 72 are arranged ata constant distance from each other, and thus a space having a constantvolume is formed within the fluid holder 63.

The fluid holder 63 holds air 73 and a fluid 74 within the space formedtherein. The air 73 and the fluid 74 have a layered structure. The fluid74 is a transparent matter that is capable of flowing, and can be aliquid, a vapor, a mist, or the like, for example. In the presentembodiment, the fluid 74 is water.

The display panel 64 is the same as the display panel 13 according tothe first embodiment, and thus detailed descriptions thereof will beomitted.

The acrylic plate 65 is a transparent acrylic reinforcing plate. Byarranging the acrylic plate 65 below the display panel 64, the operatingapparatus 4 can be made durable with respect to impacts from theexterior.

The second transparent plate 72 extends to a bottom part of the cover52. A cavity is formed within the cover 52, and this cavity connects tothe inner space of the fluid holder 63. When the fluid 74 is introducedinto the fluid holder 63 through the entry/exit port 51, the fluid 74reaches the bottom of the inner space of the cover 52. The fluid 74 istherefore held both within the fluid holder 63 and within the cover 52.

The fan 53 blows air onto the fluid 74 within the cover 52 to produce aforce in the fluid 74 that causes the fluid 74 to move up and down. Thisforce is transmitted to the fluid 74 held within the fluid holder 63 andproduces ripples in the fluid 74 within the fluid holder 63.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the gamemachine 1. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the game machine 1 includes aninput detector 81, a display controller 82, and an operation controller83. The input detector 81 detects a pressing operation made by theplayer on the touch panel 61. The display controller 82 causes an imageto be displayed in the display panel 64. The display controller 82 is aliquid-crystal driver, for example. The operation controller 83 controlsthe operation of the fan 53.

Ripple Effect

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a ripple effect produced in theoperating apparatus 4. The operation controller 83 produces ripples 91in the fluid 74 by operating the fan 53 while an image is beingdisplayed in the display panel 64. Because the touch panel 61 and theglass plate 62 are transparent, the player can clearly see the ripples91 produced in the fluid holder 63. Additionally, because the touchpanel 61, the glass plate 62, and the fluid holder 63 are transparent,the player can clearly see the image displayed in the display panel 64.The operating apparatus 4 can simultaneously present the image displayedin the display panel 64 and the ripples 91 produced in the fluid 74 inthe fluid holder 63 to the player, and thus the player's attention canbe strongly captured.

Variation

The game machine 1 may further have the light emission control functionfor the LEDs 21 described in the first embodiment. According to thisconfiguration, the operating apparatus 4 further includes the LED board12 according to the first embodiment. The LED board 12 is arrangedbetween the fluid holder 63 and the display panel 64. The operatingapparatus 4 further includes the light emission controller 32 accordingto the first embodiment.

As in the first embodiment, the game machine 1 can more strongly catchthe player's attention by illuminating the periphery of the button 41corresponding to a pressing operation made by the player on the touchpanel 61, on the basis of that pressing operation. By furthermorecombining the image display, the ripple production, and the lightemission control of the LEDs 21, the game machine 1 can present, to theplayer, an effect that more strongly captures the player's attention.

Instead of the fan 53, the operating apparatus 4 may include a differentmechanism for producing ripples in the fluid 74. This differentmechanism may be a mechanism that, for example, moves an object disposedat the surface of the fluid 74 up and down relative to the surface ofthe fluid 74. Alternatively, a plate submerged in the fluid 74 may bemoved back and forth in the direction in which the ripples 91 are toadvance. Or, a weight suspended above the surface of the fluid 74 may bedropped at once to the surface of the fluid 74.

Third Embodiment

A third embodiment of the present invention will be described next withreference to FIGS. 8 to 12. Elements that are the same as in the firstor second embodiment will be given the same reference numerals, anddetailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

Like the game machine 1 according to the first embodiment, the gamemachine 1 according to the third embodiment includes the housing 2 andthe operating apparatus 4. The external appearance of the game machine 1is the same as that illustrated in FIG. 1, and thus detaileddescriptions thereof will be omitted as well.

Details of Operating Apparatus 4

FIGS. 8A to 8C are diagrams illustrating the operating apparatus 4according to the third embodiment of the present invention in detail.FIG. 8A illustrates the operating apparatus 4 from an angle. FIG. 8Billustrates the operating apparatus 4 from above. FIG. 8C illustratesthe operating apparatus 4 from an A-A cross-section indicated in FIG.8B.

As illustrated in FIG. 8A, the operating apparatus 4 includes anentry/exit port 101. The entry/exit port 101 is the same as theentry/exit port 51 according to the second embodiment, and thus detaileddescriptions thereof will be omitted.

As illustrated in FIG. 8C, the operating apparatus 4 includes a touchpanel 111, a glass plate 112, a first projecting portion 113 (a firstdisplay unit), a fluid holder 114, a second projecting portion 115 (asecond display unit), and an acrylic plate 116. The touch panel 111, theglass plate 112, the first projecting portion 113, the fluid holder 114,the second projecting portion 115, and the acrylic plate 116 are stackedin that order from the top. The glass plate 112 is arranged below thetouch panel 111, the first projecting portion 113 is arranged below theglass plate 112, the fluid holder 114 is arranged below the firstprojecting portion 113, the second projecting portion 115 is arrangedbelow the fluid holder 114, and the acrylic plate 116 is arranged belowthe second projecting portion 115.

The touch panel 111 is the same as the touch panel 11 according to thefirst embodiment, and thus detailed descriptions thereof will beomitted.

The glass plate 112 is the same as the glass plate 62 according to thesecond embodiment, and thus detailed descriptions thereof will beomitted.

The first projecting portion 113 is a film that can switch between atransparent state and a projecting state. The first projecting portion113 is a functional liquid-crystal film, for example. “Projecting state”refers to a state in which an image can be projected onto the firstprojecting portion 113. The projecting state is a state in which thefirst projecting portion 113 is whitish as a whole, for example. Theprojecting state can also be called a state in which the firstprojecting portion 113 functions as a screen. When the first projectingportion 113 controlled to the projecting state is irradiated with lightcorresponding to an image, the image is projected onto the firstprojecting portion 113. The state of the first projecting portion 113 iscontrolled in accordance with whether or not power is supplied to thefirst projecting portion 113. The first projecting portion 113 iscontrolled to the projecting state in the case where power is notsupplied to the first projecting portion 113, and is controlled to thetransparent state in the case where power is supplied to the firstprojecting portion 113.

The fluid holder 114 is a plate-shaped member inside of which atransparent fluid is held. The fluid holder 114 is constituted of afirst transparent plate 121 and a second transparent plate 122 arrangedopposing each other. The first transparent plate 121 and the secondtransparent plate 122 are the same as the first transparent plate 71 andthe second transparent plate 72 according to the second embodiment, andthus detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

The fluid holder 114 holds air 123 and a fluid 124 within the spaceformed therein. The air 123 and the fluid 124 are the same as the air 73and the fluid 74 according to the second embodiment, and thus detaileddescriptions thereof will be omitted.

The second projecting portion 115 is a film that can switch between atransparent state and a projecting state. The second projecting portion115 is a functional liquid-crystal film, for example. “Projecting state”refers to a state in which an image can be projected onto the secondprojecting portion 115. The projecting state is a state in which thesecond projecting portion 115 is whitish as a whole, for example. Theprojecting state can also be called a state in which the secondprojecting portion 115 functions as a screen. When the second projectingportion 115 controlled to the projecting state is irradiated with lightcorresponding to an image, the image is projected onto the secondprojecting portion 115. The state of the second projecting portion 115is controlled in accordance with whether or not power is supplied to thesecond projecting portion 115. The second projecting portion 115 iscontrolled to the projecting state in the case where power is notsupplied to the second projecting portion 115, and is controlled to thetransparent state in the case where power is supplied to the secondprojecting portion 115.

The acrylic plate 116 is the same as the acrylic plate 65 according tothe second embodiment, and thus detailed descriptions thereof will beomitted.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are diagrams illustrating part of the internal structureof the game machine 1. FIG. 9A illustrates the game machine 1 fromabove. FIG. 9B illustrates the game machine 1 from an A-A cross-sectionindicated in FIG. 9A.

As illustrated in FIG. 9B, the game machine 1 includes a projector 131arranged within the housing 2. The projector 131 emits lightcorresponding to an image toward the operating apparatus 4 from a rearsurface of the operating apparatus 4. As a result, an image is projectedonto the first projecting portion 113 or the second projecting portion115.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the functional configuration of thegame machine 1 according to the third embodiment of the presentinvention. As illustrated in FIG. 10, the game machine 1 includes aninput detector 141, a state controller 142, a flow controller 143, and aprojection controller 144. The input detector 141 detects a pressingoperation made by the player on the touch panel 111. The statecontroller 142 controls the states of the first projecting portion 113and the second projecting portion 115. The flow controller 143 controlsthe flow of the fluid 124 in the fluid holder 114. The projectioncontroller 144 controls the operation of the projector 131.

Examples of Image Display

FIGS. 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating examples of an image displayin the operating apparatus 4. FIG. 11A illustrates the operatingapparatus 4, where an image is displayed in the first projecting portion113. FIG. 11B illustrates the operating apparatus 4, where an image isdisplayed in the second projecting portion 115.

In FIG. 11A, the state controller 142 does not supply power to the firstprojecting portion 113, but does supply power to the second projectingportion 115. As a result, the state controller 142 controls the firstprojecting portion 113 to the projecting state and controls the secondprojecting portion 115 to the transparent state. The projectioncontroller 144 controls the projector 131 to emit light corresponding toan image including a plurality of buttons 151 (called “image light”hereinafter) from the projector 131 toward the rear surface of theoperating apparatus 4. The image light passes through the transparentacrylic plate 116 and reaches the second projecting portion 115. Thesecond projecting portion 115 is in the transparent state, and thus theimage light passes through the second projecting portion 115. The imagelight passes through the transparent fluid holder 114 and reaches thefirst projecting portion 113. The first projecting portion 113 is in theprojecting state, and thus when the image light reaches the firstprojecting portion 113, the image is projected onto the first projectingportion 113, and thus the image is displayed in the first projectingportion 113.

In FIG. 11B, the state controller 142 supplies power to the firstprojecting portion 113 but does not supply power to the secondprojecting portion 115. As a result, the state controller 142 controlsthe first projecting portion 113 to the transparent state and controlsthe second projecting portion 115 to the projecting state. Theprojection controller 144 controls the projector 131 to emit lightcorresponding to an image including a plurality of buttons 152 (called“image light” hereinafter) from the projector 131. The image lightpasses through the transparent acrylic plate 116 and reaches the secondprojecting portion 115. The second projecting portion 115 is in theprojecting state, and thus when the image light reaches the secondprojecting portion 115, the image is projected onto the secondprojecting portion 115, and thus the image is displayed in the secondprojecting portion 115. The first projecting portion 113 is in thetransparent state, and thus the elements arranged above the secondprojecting portion 115 are all transparent. Accordingly, the imageprojected onto the second projecting portion 115 reaches the player'seyes without interference from the first projecting portion 113 and thelike.

As described above, the projector 131 projects an image including theplurality of buttons 151 onto the first projecting portion 113 while thefirst projecting portion 113 is controlled to the projecting state andthe second projecting portion 115 is controlled to the transparentstate. The image is displayed in the first projecting portion 113 as aresult. The player can clearly see the image including the plurality ofbuttons 151 projected onto the first projecting portion 113.

The projector 131 projects an image including the plurality of buttons152 onto the second projecting portion 115 while the first projectingportion 113 is controlled to the transparent state and the secondprojecting portion 115 is controlled to the projecting state. The imageis displayed in the second projecting portion 115 as a result. Theplayer can clearly see the image including the plurality of buttons 152projected onto the second projecting portion 115.

The first projecting portion 113 is arranged further forward in theoperating apparatus 4 (that is, closer to the touch panel 111) than thesecond projecting portion 115. Accordingly, the image including theplurality of buttons 151 projected onto the first projecting portion 113is displayed on a forward side of the operating apparatus 4. On theother hand, the image including the plurality of buttons 152 projectedonto the second projecting portion 115 is displayed on a rearward sideof the operating apparatus 4. By controlling the states of the firstprojecting portion 113 and the second projecting portion 115 asappropriate in this manner, the operating apparatus 4 can move thedisplay position of the image toward the player or away from the player.More diverse effects can therefore be presented to the player throughthe image display.

Examples of Flow Effect

FIGS. 12A and 12B are diagrams illustrating examples of flow effects ofthe fluid 124 in the operating apparatus 4. FIG. 12A illustrates theoperating apparatus 4 in which bubbles 161 have been produced in thefluid 124. FIG. 12B illustrates the operating apparatus 4 in whichripples 162 have been produced in the fluid 124.

In FIG. 12A, the flow controller 143 produces the bubbles 161 in thefluid 124 by controlling the flow of the fluid 124. To accomplish this,the game machine 1 further includes a bubble generator 54. The bubblegenerator is constituted of a typical air stone and air pump that may beprovided in an aquarium, for example. The air stone is submerged in thefluid 124 within the fluid holder 114. The air stone may be arranged ina position in which the air stone does not interfere with the viewing ofthe image displayed in the first projecting portion 113 or the secondprojecting portion 115. The air pump is arranged within the housing 2,for example. An air supply tube is connected to the air pump, and thistube is inserted into the fluid holder 114 through the entry/exit port101 and is connected to the air stone.

The flow controller 143 controls the air pump to supply air to the airstone through the tube from the air pump. The supplied air is dispersedinto the fluid 124 from the air stone, producing the bubbles 161 in thefluid 124 as a result. The player can see the bubbles 161 that have beenproduced.

In FIG. 12B, the flow controller 143 produces the ripples 162 in thefluid 124 by controlling the flow of the fluid 124. To achieve this, theoperating apparatus 4 may include the cover 52 and the fan 53 accordingto the second embodiment. The flow controller 143 can produce theripples 162 in the fluid 124 by controlling the fan 53. The mechanismfor producing the ripples 162 is the same as in the second embodiment,and thus detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

The game machine 1 displays an image in either the first projectingportion 113 or the second projecting portion 115. Furthermore, flow isproduced in the fluid 124 while the image is being displayed in eitherthe first projecting portion 113 or the second projecting portion 115.In other words, the game machine 1 simultaneously presents the imagedisplayed in the first projecting portion 113 or the second projectingportion 115 and the flow effect (the bubbles 161 or the ripples 162)produced in the fluid 124 within the fluid holder 114 to the player. Thegame machine 1 can therefore more strongly capture the player'sattention.

In the case where the fluid 124 is a liquid such as water, the gamemachine 1 can make the flow produced in the fluid 124 more clearlyvisible to the player. The game machine 1 can more effectively capturethe player's attention by producing the bubbles 161 or the ripples 162in the fluid 124.

Variation

The game machine 1 may further have the light emission control functionfor the LEDs 21 described in the first embodiment. According to thisconfiguration, the operating apparatus 4 further includes the LED board12 according to the first embodiment. The LED board 12 is arrangedbetween the fluid holder 114 and the second projecting portion 115. Theoperating apparatus 4 further includes the light emission controller 32according to the first embodiment.

As in the first embodiment, the game machine 1 can more strongly catchthe player's attention by illuminating the periphery of the buttons 151or the buttons 152 corresponding to a pressing operation made by theplayer on the touch panel 111, on the basis of that pressing operation.By furthermore combining the effects of the image display, the flowproduction, and the light emission control of the LEDs 21 and presentingthose effects to the player, the game machine 1 can even more stronglycapture the player's attention.

The flow controller 143 can control the flow in the fluid 124 even whenboth the first projecting portion 113 and the second projecting portion115 are controlled to the transparent state. In this case, the flow inthe fluid 124 is controlled while the entire operating apparatus 4 is inthe transparent state, and thus an effect providing a sense oftransparency is presented to the player. Such an effect makes adifferent impression on the player than an effect combining the imagedisplay and the flow control, and can thus more strongly capture theplayer's attention. In the case where the operating apparatus 4 furtherhas a function for controlling the light emission of the LEDs 21, theoperating apparatus 4 can present an effect combining the flow controlof the fluid 124 with the light emission control of the LEDs 21 to theplayer while both the first projecting portion 113 and the secondprojecting portion 115 are controlled to the transparent state. Such aneffect achieves both a sense of transparency and of brilliance, and thuscan even more strongly capture the player's attention.

The first projecting portion 113 may be a first display panel similar tothe display panel 13 according to the first embodiment. The firstdisplay panel is a liquid-crystal display panel, for example. The secondprojecting portion 115 may be a second display panel similar to thedisplay panel 13 according to the first embodiment. The second displaypanel is a liquid-crystal display panel, for example. In this case, thegame machine 1 need not include the projector 131. Instead, the gamemachine 1 includes a first display controller that causes an image to bedisplayed in the first display panel and a second display controllerthat causes an image to be displayed in the second display panel. Thefirst display controller and the second display controller areliquid-crystal drivers, for example.

According to this configuration, the first display panel is controlledto a transparent state when not displaying an image. The first displayunit includes a transparent backlight, for example. The first displaycontroller does not cause an image to be displayed in the first displaypanel while the second display controller is causing an image to bedisplayed in the second display panel. As a result, the first displaypanel is controlled to the transparent state, and thus the imagedisplayed in the second display panel reaches the player's eyes withoutinterference from the first display panel. The player can therefore seethe image displayed in the second display panel.

The present invention is not intended to be limited to theabove-described embodiments, and many changes can be made within thescope laid out in the claims Embodiments achieved by combining thetechnical means disclosed in different embodiments as appropriate alsofall within the technical scope of the present invention. New technicalfeatures can also be realized by combining the technical means disclosedin the respective embodiments.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A game machine comprising: a touch panel; afirst display unit arranged below the touch panel in a viewing directionof a player; a transparent fluid holder arranged below the first displayunit in the viewing direction, the transparent fluid holder holding atransparent liquid; a second display unit arranged below the fluidholder in the viewing direction, wherein an image is displayed in thefirst display unit or the second display unit; and a bubble generatorcausing bubbles to arise in the liquid to produce a visual flow effectin the transparent liquid with the display of the image on the firstdisplay unit or the second display unit.
 2. The game machine accordingto claim 1, wherein the first display unit is configured to switchbetween a transparent state and a projecting state, the projecting statebeing a state in which the image is projected onto the first displayunit; and the second display unit is configured to switch between atransparent state and a projecting state, the projecting state being astate in which the image is projected onto the second display unit. 3.The game machine according to claim 2 further comprising: a projectorconfigured to project the image onto the first display unit or thesecond display unit from below the second display unit, such that in astate where the first display unit is being controlled to the projectingstate and the second display unit is being controlled to the transparentstate; the projector projects the image on the first display unit and ina state where the second display unit is being controlled to theprojecting state, the projector projects the image on the second displayunit.
 4. The game machine according to claim 1, further comprising: alight-emitting element board arranged between the fluid holder and thesecond display unit, a plurality of light-emitting elements beingmounted on the light-emitting element board.
 5. The game machineaccording to claim 1, wherein the visual flow effect is produced in thetransparent liquid simultaneously with the display of the image on thefirst display unit or the second display unit.
 6. A game machinecomprising: a touch panel; a first display unit arranged below the touchpanel in a viewing direction of a player; a transparent fluid holderarranged below the first display unit in the viewing direction, thetransparent fluid holder holding a transparent liquid; a second displayunit arranged below the fluid holder in the viewing direction, whereinan image is displayed in the first display unit or the second displayunit; and a ripple generator causing ripples to arise in the liquid toproduce a visual flow effect in the transparent liquid with the displayof the image on the first display unit or the second display unit. 7.The game machine according to claim 6, wherein the first display unit isconfigured to switch between a transparent state and a projecting state,the projecting state being a state in which the image is projected ontothe first display unit; and the second display unit is configured toswitch between a transparent state and a projecting state, theprojecting state being a state in which the image is projected onto thesecond display unit.
 8. The game machine according to claim 7, furthercomprising: a projector configured to project the image onto the firstdisplay unit or the second display unit from below the second displayunit, such that in a state where the first display unit is beingcontrolled to the projecting state and the second display unit is beingcontrolled to the transparent state; the projector projects the image onthe first display unit and in a state where the second display unit isbeing controlled to the projecting state, the projector projects theimage on the second display unit.
 9. The game machine according to claim6, further comprising: a light-emitting element board arranged betweenthe fluid holder and the second display unit, a plurality oflight-emitting elements being mounted on the light-emitting elementboard.
 10. The game machine according to claim 6, wherein the visualflow effect is produced in the transparent liquid simultaneously withthe display of the image on the first display unit or the second displayunit.